Step adjuster of an oval track walker

ABSTRACT

A step adjuster of an oval trackwalker includes two assembly frames respectively connected pivotally with a sector gear and a movable sector disc for mutual movement. An eccentric portion of the sector gear and the movable sector disc are respectively connected to crank blocks in slide grooves of the assembly frames by means of adjusting arms, and pedal cranks are respectively connected with studs of the crank blocks and pedals. Then, the sector gear has semi-round teeth engaging with a worm of a grip, moving to form a proper angle and synchronously adjusting the distance between two pedals and the connect rods to perform step adjustment, achieving the effectiveness of handling with ease and quickness and economizing the cost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a step adjuster of an oval trackwalker,particularly to one possible to economize cost, and handle with ease andquickness.

[0002] The device of an oval track walker generally conforms to a man'swalking inertia so that a user may feel as comfortably and safely aswalking on a road, impossible to hurt the joints of the user.

[0003] A conventional oval trackwalker having a step adjuster isdisclosed in the Taiwan Patent Gazette Publication No. 320066 on Nov.11, 1997 (a copy enclosed herein).

[0004] In accordance with the patent, the way of adjusting step is toprovide more than one holes 26 vertical in line in an extending arm 25for a pivotal pin 28 to fit therein to adjust the pivotal rod 27 todifferent distances, and synchronously adjust the moving distance of thepedals 24 on the drive rods 20.

[0005] However, the known conventional device is inconvenient in use dueto time and labor consuming of pulling out the pin and then reinsertingit in a proper hole for adjusting a step distance. Besides, Theadjustment of the step depends only on a few fixed holes, impossible tomeet various requirements in step adjustment. Moreover, in using, twopedals must be adjusted respectively, and at the same time two pivotalpins have to be respectively adjusted as well, thus adding much troublein handling.

[0006] Another conventional step adjuster is provided with two motors asmotive power for adjusting the step, but high voltage is generallyrequired for large horsepower sufficient enough to function foradjusting work, consequently liable to generate electromagnetic wave tointerfere with the signal controlled by low voltage; as a result, somecomparatively more minute device for overcoming such problem has to beused, thus elevating the cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The objective of the invention is to offer a step adjuster of anoval trackwalker, unnecessary to provide an expensive e electric motorfor controlling step adjustment so that the cost is reduced forconsumers to be able to afford it, and it is convenient in use due tosynchronously adjusting the two pedals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] This invention will be better understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

[0009]FIG. 1 is an upper view of a step adjuster for an oval trackwalkerin the present invention:

[0010]FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the step adjuster for an ovaltrackwalker, taken from the direction marked by A in FIG. 1 in thepresent invention:

[0011]FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the step adjuster, taken fromthe direction marked by B in FIG. 1 in the present invention:

[0012]FIG. 1C is a magnified view of FIG. 1A:

[0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the step adjuster adjusted tothe maximum position in the present invention:

[0014]FIG. 3 is a first cross-sectional view of the step adjuster, withthe step adjusted to a medium position in the present invention:

[0015]FIG. 4 is a second cross-sectional view of the step adjusteradjusted to the medium position in the present invention:

[0016]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the step adjuster adjusted tothe minimum position in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] An embodiment of a step adjuster of an oval track walker in thepresent invention, as shown in FIG. 1, includes two assembly frames 10provided spaced apart in parallel, having an inner end portion of afirst assembly frame 10 facing an outer end portion of a second assemblyframe 10. Between the inner end portion of the first assembly frame andthe outer end portion of the second assembly frame is fixed a hollowtube 11 having a connect rod 12 fixed in the hollow tube 11, and bothends of the connect rod 12 extend out of the assembly frames 10 to beconnected with a sector gear 20 and a movable sector disc 21. Then eachassembly frame 10 gas a horizontal slide groove 13 provided far apartfrom the end of the connect rod 12 having a crank block 14 insertedmovable in the slide groove 13.

[0018] The sector gear 20 and the movable sector disc 21 arerespectively fixed at each end of the connect rod 12 for mutualmovement, and semi-round teeth 200 of the sector gear 20 has a presetlength to engage with a worm 52 of a grip 51.

[0019] Two adjusting arms 30 are pivotally connected between theeccentric portions 201, 211 of the sector gear 20 and the sector disc 21and a crank block 14. Besides, on upper side of each assembly frame 10and near the edge of the sector gear 20 and the movable sector disc 21are respectively provided spaced apart two projecting stop members 202,212 to set an utmost limit for rotation of the sector gear 20 and themovable sector disc 21.

[0020] Further, two pedal cranks 40 are provided to pivotally connectwith the assembly frames 10, with one end pivotally connected with astud of the crank block 14, and the other end extending outward toconnect with pedals 41.

[0021] In addition, the grip 50 abutting on the sector gear 20 has aneccentric rotatable arm 51 at one end and a worm 52 at the other end toengage with the teeth 200 of the sector gear 20.

[0022] After assembling, the way of handling the step adjuster is asfollows:

[0023] 1. To maximize a step, as shown in FIG. 2, turn the grip 50 todrive the sector gear 20 rotate to make the adjusting rod 30 move to ahorizontal condition (zero degree), letting the crank block 14 movefarther away from the sector gear 20, and at the same time the side edgeof the eccentric portion of the sector gear 20 touch one projecting stopmember 202 and stop turning, thus forming the longest distance betweenthe pedals 41 and the connect rod 12 and acquiring the maximum step.

[0024] As connected by the connect rod 12, the sector gear 20 and themovable sector disc 21 move together to synchronously adjust the twoadjusting rods 30, the two pedal cranks 40 and the two pedals 41, asshown in FIG. 2.

[0025] 2. To shorten the step, as shown in FIG. 3, turn the grip 50 tolet the sector gear 20 and the joint point of the adjusting rod 30 form90 degrees so as to permit the adjusting rod 30 pull the crank block 14to move toward the sector gear 20 to adjust the distance between thepedals 41 on the pedal cranks 40 and the connect rod 12, as FIG. 4shows.

[0026] 3. To minimize the step, as shown in FIG. 5, turn the grip 50 todrive the sector gear 20 to a position of 180 degrees, letting the crankblocks 14 move closest to the sector gear 20 and then forming a shortestdistance between the pedals 41 and the connect rod 12. In the mean time,the side edge of the eccentric portions 201, 211 touch the otherprojecting stop member 212 and stop turning to acquire the minimum steplimited.

[0027] In addition to using a pin or the like for positioning the grip,the mutual engagement of the worm bar 52 and the engaging gear 200 ofthe sector gear 20 can surely secure the grip stably not to slide afterreleasing the hand in adjusting.

[0028] As can be understood from the above descriptions, the inventionhas the following advantages:

[0029] 1. The cost can be economized and it is easy and convenient tohandle the step adjuster.

[0030] 2. There are wide ranges for step adjustment.

[0031] 3. The step between two pedals can be adjusted synchronously,saving much time.

[0032] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beendescribed above, it will be recognized and understood that variousmodifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intendedto cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit andscope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A step adjuster of an oval trackwalker comprising: Twoassembly frames provided in parallel, with an inner end portion of afirst assembly frame facing an out e r end portion of a second assemblyframe, a hollow tube provided between said inner end portion of said fir s t assembly frame and said outer end portion of said second assemblyframe, a connect rod placed in said hollow tube, two ends of saidconnect rod extending through said hollow tube and out of said assemblyframe; a horizontal slide groove provided far apart from one end of saidconnect rod of said assembly frame, said slide groove having inside acrank block connected with and movable with an adjusting arm foradjusting its position: A sector gear and a movable sector discrespectively connected to one end of said connect rods for mutualmovement, the outer edge of said sector gear formed into semi-roundteeth: Two adjusting arms with their front ends respectively connectedpivotally with an eccentric portion of said sector gear and said sectordisc, and their other ends connected with said crank blocks: Two pedalcranks with one end pivotally connected with a stud of said crank blockand the other end fixedly connected with a pedal: A grip abutting onsaid sector gear, with an inner end formed into a worm for engaging withsemi-round teeth of said sector gear: In handling the step adjuster,said grip turned to drive said sector gear rotate to a proper angle toadjust the distance between said crank block and said connect rod, andsimultaneously adjusting the step between said two pedals.
 2. The stepadjuster of an oval track walker as claimed in claim 1, wherein stopmembers are provided spaced apart on said assembly frame and close tosaid sector gear and said sector disc for the side edge of the eccentricportion of said sector gear and said sector disc to touch and stop therefor limiting its position.
 3. The step adjuster of an oval track walkeras claimed in claim 1, wherein an another end of said worm is providedwith an eccentric rotatable arm turning together with said worm.